06.04.

1250: The French King St. Louis IX Captured In Egypt

Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons / Equestrian statue of King Saint Louis at the Sacré-Cœur

Story Highlights

Historical event

6 April 1250

St. Louis IX and his brother Charles Anjou were captured in Egypt (his Anjou dynasty later ruled Croatia, Hungary, Naples, and Poland).

The French King St. Louis IX was captured on this day in 1250. He was the only king in the French history who was declared a saint (canonized).

The Muslim forces captured him after the Battle of Fāriskūr, in which the Christian forces were defeated. St. Louis IX was captured in the area of the Nile Delta. It happened during the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254). His brother Charles Anjou was also captured with him (his Anjou dynasty later ruled Hungary, Croatia, Naples, and Poland).

After they captured him, the Muslims took Louis IX to the city of Al Mansurah, located in the Nile Delta.

They demanded 400,000 livres for his freedom, which allegedly was one-third of the annual income of the whole Kingdom of France. They got a lot of money, but probably not the full amount.

The king-saint was released after about a month, but the Crusaders lost their footholds in Egypt.

After that, St. Louis IX concentrated on the fighting in the Holy Land, where the Crusaders owned many cities.